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SBL Lincolnland Home Care and Lincolnland Hospice will conduct a free blood pressure clinic from 8:30 to 9 a.m. Thursday, August 20 at the Senior Center in Sullivan. For more information, call Lincolnland Home Care at 1-800-879-3212. Read More

Chantel Scherer of Sullivan, a member of the Northern Illinois University golf team, was recently named NIU Sportswoman for 1990. She received her award for sportsmanship, academic and athletic contributions to the Lady Huskies golf team.

Thirty-nine youngsters participated in the 1990 4-H Fishing Derby held July 10 in Wyman Park. Travis Bunch won a tackle box for catching the biggest fish, and Chelsey Peters won a bait box for catching the most fish. Other awards were won by Dane Jackson, who won a mini tackle for being the first 4-H’er to catch a fish; Karen McCall, who won a gift certificate for making the best effort; Missy Gillen, who won a kite for being the 4-H’er to catch the smallest fish and Jeremy Helton, who won a kite for being the smallest fisherman. Read More

In commemoration of Medicare’s 50th anniversary July 30, the Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) would like to encourage Illinois seniors and people with disabilities to learn about services provided by the Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP). This year, marks the 50th anniversary of the enactment of Amendments to the Social Security Act that established the Medicare program.

“The Department on Aging supports SHIP’s role in assisting older adults and individuals with disabilities make informed decisions,” said acting director Jennifer Reif. “There are more than 250 existing local SHIP offices statewide with 1,000 dedicated counselors who are readily available to assist and educate people about Medicare and available insurance options.” Read More

The Green Mill Village Theatre in Arcola will be throwing a Christmas in July party Thursday, July 30. Guests will have a chance to come to the theatre to meet Santa and his reindeer before enjoying a 1 p.m. or 7 p.m. showing of “Half-Stitched The Musical.”

“We wanted to create a fun and unique event that would bring together people of all ages,” Koy Cook, Sales and Social Media Coordinator, said. “Christmas is such a festive time of year, and we really wanted to give a gift to the community for being so supportive of our new theatre with some amazing deals on tickets and a variety of activities for the kids.” Read More

The State of Illinois budget not being enacted for fiscal year 2016 beginning July 1 has led C.E.F.S. Economic Opportunity Corporation to make changes in their program delivery system to include reduction of client services, days of service, hours of operation and employment of personnel to provide the needed services to clients.

According to Paul White, CEO, “The current budget uncertainty and impasse at the state level has led C.E.F.S. Economic Opportunity Corporation to reduce client services effective July 1 and to lay off employees, change days of service and reduce hours of operation in the field offices effective August 3.

White added that, “Due to C.E.F.S. not having state contracts or state funding in place for some of our key human service programs, the agency has had to make decisions that impact the level of service for our clients at our local outreach field offices.”

On July 1, C.E.F.S. Economic Opportunity Corporation stopped all direct client services in the following grants: the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, the Emergency Solutions Grant, the Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program, the Homeless Prevention Program, and the Emergency and Transitional Housing Program. These unfunded state funded programs will not provide direct client services until the state budget is approved and contracts are issued to C.E.F.S. The client impact has been no direct services to 2,115 low-income individuals which represents 955 vulnerable households not receiving needed assistance. Read More

Edward Jones Financial Advisor George Levi announced today that a second financial advisor, Jamie Shoot, has joined his office in Sullivan as of July 7.

“I am really looking forward to working with George,” said Jamie. “I’ll have all the advantages of working with an experienced investment professional while getting to know local investors. This will be a tremendous opportunity to increase my investment knowledge and hone my customer service skills.”

“I’m very impressed with Jamie, and I’m sure our clients will be, too,” added Levi. “Edward Jones prides itself on providing the best service possible to those investors who choose to do business with us. Jamie will help provide the high level of service investors in Moultrie County have come to expect from us as well as extend our services to new investors.” Read More

•July 22, 2015•

The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) announced today that Illinois’ unemployment rate in June declined to 5.9 percent and nonfarm payroll employment shed -7,500 jobs, based on preliminary data released by the Department and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The state’s unemployment rate is higher than the national unemployment rate reported for June, which fell from the prior month to 5.3 percent.
On a county level, the most current unemployment data is for May, during which Moultrie recorded a rate of 3.8 percent, up two-tenths a percent from April, but down 1.5 percent from a year ago. June’s data is expected to be released Thursday, July 23.
The BLS revised May data, which showed a smaller increase in Illinois’ job gain from a preliminary +9,200 to +7,400. Read More

•July 22, 2015•

Soil conditions throughout Illinois remain wet as most of the state experienced higher than normal rainfall in the first two weeks of July, according to Jennie Atkins, Water and Atmospheric Resources Monitoring (WARM) Program Manager at the Illinois State Water Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois.
Rainfall across the Illinois Climate Network averaged 3.36 inches the first two weeks of July, only 0.03 inches below the long-term average for July. Three of the network’s stations – Dixon Springs (Pope County), Monmouth (Warren County), and Stelle (Ford County) – measured totals over five inches.
Soil moisture levels remain high with a state average of 0.37 water fraction by volume (wfv) at depths of two inches July 14, 48 percent higher than the long-term average. Levels are at or above field capacity at most sites measured as levels at two inches ranged from 0.41 wfv in the east central region to 0.35 wfv in west central Illinois. Read More

•July 22, 2015•

Illinois EPA Director Lisa Bonnett and Illinois Department of Agriculture Director Philip Nelson announced Tuesday the release of a finalized statewide strategy designed to improve water quality in Illinois and the Gulf of Mexico. The Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (the Strategy) is the culmination of more than a year of work by a policy working group as well as public input.
The Strategy does not call for new regulations for either point or non-point sources; however, it does rely on the latest science and best available technologies to guide statewide efforts to reduce phosphorus and nitrogen losses that impact Illinois waterways and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico. These nutrients spur algae blooms that deplete oxygen levels, hinder recreation, and threaten public health. Nutrient pollution can also degrade drinking water quality and require cities to install costly treatment equipment.
“Illinois EPA appreciates the collaboration of our partners and the public to make this Strategy an action plan that Illinois is committed to implementing,” said Illinois EPA Director Lisa Bonnett. “By building on and scaling up the work that municipalities, sanitary districts, farmers and landowners are already doing to reduce nutrient losses, we will be able to make great strides in protecting Illinois rivers, lakes and streams, as well as reducing our contribution to Gulf of Mexico hypoxia.” Read More

•July 22, 2015•

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Lake Shelbyville conduct a dove hunt on opening day of dove season, Tuesday September 1 at Whitley Creek and South Sand Creek Dove Fields.
On September 1, two hunts will take place, one in the morning (6-11 a.m.) and one in the afternoon (2-7 p.m.). A permit is required to participate in the hunt on opening day. Permit applications may be picked up at the Lake Shelbyville Project Office Monday through 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday or obtained online at www.tinyurl.com/LakeShelbyville-Hunting. Read More